Libya Fighting Continues As Transitional Council Prepares To Unveil New Government

The battle between revolutionary fighters and loyalists continues along the roads of Sirte.

Libya's victorious rebels prepared to unveil a new government today even as fierce fighting continued with forces loyal to ousted ruler Muammar Qaddafi in two towns.

Qaddafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte and a second city, Bani Walid, launched fresh assaults on fighters backed by the National Transitional Council.

The military spokesman for the National Transitional Council, Ahmed Bani, said the pro-Qaddafi fighters would be defeated in "a matter of days."

Qaddafi's whereabouts remain unknown, but his spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Qaddafi remains in Libya and is leading the battle against the interim government.

Meanwhile, members of the Transitional Council are haggling over details of the new government lineup, with some complaining that negotiations neglected long-standing opposition groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mahmud Jibril, a former Qadaffi regime official and the new No. 2 member of the NTC, is expected to retain his post as interim prime minister.

compiled from agency reports